Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Big Winners On Campus

The College Republicans at the UC Irvine are claiming victory, following the reversal of a decision by administrators to suspend them for a year. “It’s a huge victory for freedom of speech and assembly, and I think this move proves that there is bias to political ideologies in this administration,” said Ariana Rowlands, President of the UCI College Republicans.

The disciplinary action was imposed after a June 2nd event hosting the controversial right wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos. He visited the students as part of his “Dangerous Faggot Tour.” The administration based the action on a contractual insurance violation at the event. However, the University changed course following a social media firestorm and national petition supporting the students. First administrators temporarily lifted the ban pending an appeal, and now have permanently lifted the suspension and cancelled the appeals process.
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Following the initial suspension, the conservative group found unlikely allies in the BernEaters for Bernie Sanders and the Students in Support of Israel. “We’re sending a message that no matter what your political views are that you should have a right to say them, and you shouldn’t be punished for having a different opinion than the administration,” said Kevin Brum, President of UCI Students Supporting Israel.